Survey results on effective solutions to global warming in four countries
The graph below shows the result of a survey of young people in four European countries on the most effective solution to global warming.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
- Lifestyle changes
- Government regulations
- Environmental issues
- None of these
View the data
| Portugal | Spain | Italy | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifestyle changes | 50 | 38 | 30 | 25 |
| Government regulations | 20 | 17 | 22 | 19 |
| Environmental issues | 17 | 20 | 24 | 21 |
| None of these | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Chart redrawn by BandLadder from the data in the original IELTS practice task. Many IELTS practice tasks come from the Cambridge IELTS series (Cambridge University Press & Assessment); all rights in the original tasks remain with their owners.
Band 8 sample answer
The bar chart illustrates the opinions of young people in four European countries—Portugal, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands—regarding the most effective approach to tackling global warming. Overall, it is evident that lifestyle changes are generally perceived as the most significant solution, whereas the 'none of these' option is the least favoured across all four nations.
In Portugal, lifestyle changes are overwhelmingly seen as the primary solution, chosen by 50% of respondents, which is the highest figure for any category in the survey. Spain follows a similar trend, with 38% of young people prioritising lifestyle changes. In contrast, Italy and the Netherlands show a more balanced distribution of opinions. In Italy, environmental issues are considered the most effective solution by 24% of respondents, closely followed by government regulations at 22% and lifestyle changes at 30%.
Regarding government regulations and environmental issues, the figures are relatively stable, ranging between 17% and 24% across the countries. Notably, the 'none of these' category remains consistently low, accounting for exactly 3% of responses in every country surveyed. Overall, while lifestyle changes dominate in Portugal and Spain, the preferences in Italy and the Netherlands are more evenly spread across the three main categories.
197 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.
How to write about bar charts
- Compare the biggest and smallest bars before anything else.
- If the bars show years, describe change; if they show places, describe rank.
- Round sensibly and say 'just over' or 'nearly' rather than guessing decimals.
- overwhelmingly
- to a very great degree or extent
- prioritising
- treating something as more important than others
- balanced distribution
- an even spread of values across categories
- consistently
- in every case or on every occasion
- dominate
- to have a commanding influence or presence
- evenly spread
- distributed in a uniform or equal manner
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Frequently asked questions
What should the overview say?
Lifestyle changes are the most popular choice in all countries except Italy, while the 'none of these' category remains consistently low across all surveyed nations.
How long should an IELTS Task 1 answer be?
At least 150 words; 170 to 200 is the safe range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.
How do I describe bar charts?
Compare the biggest and smallest bars before anything else. If the bars show years, describe change; if they show places, describe rank. Round sensibly and say 'just over' or 'nearly' rather than guessing decimals.
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